LP pushes constitutional convention
By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:52:00 12/01/2008
Filed Under: Constitution, Charter change, Politics, Eleksyon 2010, Elections
MANILA, Philippines -- To counter the Charter change initiative by administration allies, the Liberal Party will file separate bills in the Senate and the House of Representatives calling for a constitutional convention, party president and Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas said on Monday.
Roxas made the announcement amid the reported growing number of congressmen supporting the Charter change move in the House.
The measures that the LP would propose, he said, would call for the election of constitutional convention delegates by 2010.
“Kung papalitan ang Saligang Batas, ay hindi dapat makinabang ang mga kasalukuyang opisyal [The incumbent officials should not benefit from a change in the Constitution]. Kaya tinutulak ng Partido Liberal ang isang constitutional convention, na ang miyembro ay pipiliin kasabay ng halalan ng [That is why the Liberal Party is pushing for a constitutional convention whose members will be chosen in the elections of] 2010," he said in a statement.
He also maintained that if a constituent assembly would be convened, it should be voted on separately by the House and Senate.
The LP vowed to oppose "by all means" any attempts to change the Constitution and perpetuate the wrongdoings of the present administration.
"We can see that by forcing Cha-Cha in the lower House that the will of our people has been ignored for this ‘Gloria Forever’ Constitution,” he said, referring to attempts in the House to railroad amendments to the Constitution that would remove term limits for the incumbent President.
"No matter how many congressmen support Cha-Cha, a separate vote by the Senate is still needed, because this is our democratic process,” he pointed out.
Instead of Cha-cha, Roxas said the government should prioritize helping the people during the global economic crisis.
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